Balancing Academia and Clinical Proficiency in the Training of Nurses at University Degree Level in Ghana
Date
2017-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University Of Ghana
Abstract
Background: Countries all over the world including African countries and Ghana are encouraging the transition of nursing education from hospital based training in colleges to a
University based degree level. At the University degree level, the preparation of student
nurses involves acquisition of theoretical knowledge and also clinical practice, which if well
done can serve as a double edged tool for blending theory and practice.
Objectives: The study investigated the ability of university nursing lecturers in Ghana to
balance theory and practice in training student nurses at the university level. The objective
of the study was to explore the role and experiences of nurse academics in balancing theory
and practice in training nurses at the university degree level.
Significance: This study seeks to contribute to the discourse on empirical knowledge that
will inform policy on the development of strategies and models that could bridge the theory
and practice gap in training nurses at the university, enhance the acquisition of innovative
clinical skills to address the theory and practice gaps in the training of nurses and finally,
address the complex challenges facing the nursing profession in the contemporary health
care system in Ghana.
Methodology: Using an exploratory research approach with a Methodical triangulation
design, data was collected from university nursing lecturers and university student nurses
using individual interviews and focused Group Discussions.
Results: Clinical practice was seen as an important measure for enhancing theoretical
preparation of nursing students to make them wholly qualified and proficient in the delivery
of nursing care. While this is so, the study also discovered that majority of nursing lecturers
in the university had a short duration of clinical exposure of two (2) to three (3) years before
joining academia. Although the nursing lectureres themselves recognize the importance of
clinical practice proficiency in training nurses at the university degree level, the university
academic calendar does not favour the inclusion of clinical practice in their academic
programmes, thus making balancing academic work with clinical practice difficult. Some of
the findings of this research were congruent with other studies whilst dissimilarities were
also established among the Ghanaian nurse educators on the part of their unwillingness to
endevour to blend theory with practice.
Conclusion: The study concluded that although both lecturers and students accept that nurse
educators in academia are obliged to blend theory and practice in training nurses. A number
of difficulties do not favour this situation.
Recommendations: The theses provided recommendations for nursing education, policy
makes and areas of future research identified. For nurse education, university curricula
should be designed to place priority on clinical practice. Universities must give autonomy to
the schools of nursing in designing the academic calendar. Nursing and Midwifery Council
of Ghana should put monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure that university nursing
lecturers acquire adequate clinical practice competencies.
Description
Thesis (MPhil.)
Keywords
Academia, Nurses, Clinical, Training, Ghana